Have wanted to do some nogales mex. searching for a while, finally did it. Found 6 mavericks, all big bumper 250 autos. All but one 4 doors. I'll get two full sets of 5 lug disk setups for $50 each set. Four 5 lug rears available. Didn't ask the price, but will when I pick up some stuff on Sat., they pull. The find of the day, sort of, was the brown one with the front cut off. A kluge job completely, vin says it's a 72 with a 170, front clip which is still there says 75, no door tag, originaly auto, big hole in the floor where someone cut in to get the toploader shifter off it. Peaked in behind the engine and sure enough there's a toploader sitting there, figured it must be a 3 speed, no, 3 shift levers. Go talk to the owner, I want the clutch pedal setup, $20 inside and out, Z bar is there. Says he'll sell me the whole clutch, bellhousing, trans, pedal setup for $100. I say let me go look at the thing closer. Z bar is homemade, couple cuts and welds but looks like it would work ok, pedal looks correct, I can barely get to the ID tag on the trans, spit and a piece of old upholstery uncovers RUG, I start to get excited, then RUG BP, then d7 etc., dooohhhh, it's the 77 psuedo toploader, the overdrive one. Still, behind a 250 it might be a decent setup so I tell him I'll give him $50 for the whole shebang. Done. Couldn't see a number on the bell but hoping it's actually correct. Spent the whole afternoon driving around little dirt roads looking at little junk yards. 80's stuff galore, very little older stuff, only one mustang all day. I hear there's a ton of Mavericks in Hermosillo, way bigger than Nogales, will have to make it there one day.
s'more Most of the Mav's still had the motors in them, one a 302, and the Granada still had a 302. ALL the carbs were gone. Lots of spindles with the disks and hubs off. Disks off the Granada but the calipers still hanging there. A buddy needs one for his falcon so I'll snag that too.
End of the story Figured I'd cap it off. Got a complete 5 lug rear for $50. $50 seems to be the magical number, like $2 at a yard sale. The trans and bell turned out to be correct and in good shape. The bell alone was worth my $50 but got flywheel, clutch, trans, pedal setup, z bar, and even the pivot too. And they pulled it all. Going to make a habit of Mexico junkyards, looks like I'll be in Hermosillo for a soccer tournament in May, will make time to check out the yards. Maybe that Shelby will turn up yet.
Look at the rears in all those Monarch/Granadas you run across. 50 bux for a 9" is a beautiful thing!
